here is my perspective on "new" algebras, as derived from the old fashioned education i received in the 60's and currently visible in books such as lang's algebra.
an (associative) "algebra" A (with identity), over a ring R, is an abelian additive group with an associative bilinear multiplication, for which an element called 1 acts as the identity, equipped with a ring map from R to A, "preserving identities".
Given any module M over R there is a universal such object T(M) called the tensor algebra of M over R. There is always a module map from M into T(M), and the image generates T(M) as an algebra.
If M is free of rank s over R, then T(M) is a non commutative polynomial ring over R generated by s "variables", which can be chosen to be any s free generators of M as a module.
The beauty of this object is, it contains in its DNA the data of all possible such algebras over R. I.e. if B is any associate R algebra with identit, equipped with a module map M-->B whose image generates B over R, then there is a unique surjective R algebra map T(M)-->B such that the composition M-->T(M)-->B equals the given map M-->B.
Hence the "new" algebra B, is merely a quotient T(M)/I, of the universal algebra T(M) by some ideal I. In this sense there are no new algbras of this type, as they are all constructed out of T(M).
For example, if S(M) is the "symmetric algebra" of M over R, which just equals the usual commutative polynomial algebra over R, with algebra generators or "variables" equal to the module generators of M, then S(M) = T(M)/I where I is the 2 - sided ideal generated by elements of form
x(tens)y - y(tens)x.
and if E(M) is the exterior algebra of M over R, (whose elements are linear combinations of wedge products of things like dx, dy, dz, when dx, dy, dz are generators of M over R), then E(M) is just the quotient of T(M) by the ideal generated by elements which contain repeated factors like x(tens)x.
Now the usual definition of a Clifford algebra is that it is an associative algebra with identity, built on a vector space M over a field R, plus a quadratic form q ("inner product"), as follows: the algebra C(M) is equipped with a module map M-->C(M) such that the image of the element x, in C(M) has square equal to q(x).1. I.e. if x is in M, and q(x) is its "squared length" under the form q, then in C(M), we have x^2 = q(x).1. And the elements of M generate C(M) as an algebra over R. morover C(M) is universal for all such algebras, i.e. every other one is a quotient of C(M).
But in particuilar C(M) is an associative algebra generated by M. Hence there is a unique surjective R algebra map T(M)-->C(M) realizing C(M) as a quotient of form T(M)/I for some unique ideal I in T(M), containing elements of form
x(tens)x - q(x).1, and presumably generated by these.
Now I fully admit to being a novice here, but i fail to see how anyone can fail to deduce from this that the key construction to understand in all of this is the tensor product.
Moreover, as the Clifford algebra involves extra structure which is not always present, namely the form q, it is clearly a more special derivative of T(M) than is the exterior algebra E(M), i.e. differential forms.
Furthermore, what "new" algebras are possible? unless they are non associative. (and mathematicians have also studied non associative algebras but i have not myself.)
Anyone claiming to construct a new associative algebra generated by elements of a module M, makes one wonder if they are unaware of the basic universal constructions that have been on the scene and even dominated it since the 1950's.
Of course this all concerns only the local, i.e. pointwise side of the story. The usefuleness of these constructs to physicists should be influenced, perhaps decidely, by their global manifestations in physics.
Notice that even if I am completely wrong, I have purposely given you enough data to decide for yourself.
If someone in a competing camp wishes to share more sophisticated and newer definitions for these concepts, I assume we will all be grateful.
Oh yes, and Riemannian geometry cannot possibly replace calculus, as Riemannian geometry also invovles an inner product which is unnecessary for intrinsic ideas of calculus.